Bio Patti Graham

Born into a family of service, Patti grew up around first responders and other community servants. Following her father's line of duty death in 2008, she started as a chaplain in 2009, finished her firefighter training in 2010, all while working to develop a program to “Serve Servants” to focus on mental wellness.

She quickly became connected with other likeminded first responder and is one of the co-creators of the South Carolina First Responder Assistance and Support Team (SC FAST) formed in 2011. Patti became the team leader in 2013.

After 20 years of marriage to Ed Johns, Patti became widow. Being given another opportunity to love and be loved, Patti married Steve Graham in 2016 and they live in Spartanburg, SC.

Steve and Patti have a personal perspective of firefighter suicide after losing their son, Matt, to suicide in 2020. This has served to solidify Patti’s determination to do everything possible to not only educate first responders and their families but to facilitate the connections needed to heal trauma, whether it stems from childhood, work, or life in general.

Patti and Steve have 10 grandchildren and cherish every moment they get with each of them.